Austin, TX -- Yesterday, in response to the alleged pay discrimination in Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office, Democratic elected officials sent a letter to Lt. Governor David Dewhurst calling on him to initiate a Senate investigation into fair pay at all state agencies. [Houston Chronicle, 3/26/14]

According to the San Antonio Express News, when looking at the 722 assistant attorneys general in Abbott’s office, “the average salary for 343 men is $79,464 while the average salary for 379 women is $73,649...Of seven different classifications of assistant attorneys general, the average salary for men is higher than the average salary for women in six of them, with the difference ranging from $647 to $4,452.” [San Antonio Express News, 3/18/14]

Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa issued the following statement:

“It’s important to echo the call of our elected officials and insist on Lt. Governor David Dewhurst to launch a Senate investigation into Greg Abbott's Office of the Attorney General in light of reports that he is paying women less than men for doing the same work. As Attorney General, Greg Abbott is tasked with protecting the rights of all Texans, yet he allows blatant discrimination to fester in his own office. If Greg Abbott has committed wage discrimination, it would be a violation of federal law. Everyone deserves fair pay regardless of race or gender and Texas needs new leaders that will fight for the economic well being of all Texans.”